Cape County's Relay for Life event is Friday

The community again will don its purple attire in celebration of the Relay for Life of Cape Girardeau County, to be held Friday at Arena Park.

Purple is the color of cancer survivors, and local survivors will lead the way as special guests at the relay. According to Kelli Schenimann, community manager of development for the American Cancer Society Eastern Missouri Region, this is the 15th year survivors and supporters will walk to end cancer.

"It started in Jackson and is now held in Cape Girardeau," she said. "We have several committee members and team captains that have been involved since inception. They just come back year after year to support us."

The relay serves a dual purpose as a vehicle to raise awareness about cancer, on both a national and local level, and fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, which funds research, treatment and recovery efforts.

"It's all about celebrating survivors," said event chairwoman Joyce Penny. "I am a survivor, so I know what it's like when you get diagnosed and get treatment and everything's all in your face. You keep thinking 'I'm going to get better, I'll get better,' and then when you do it's like 'now what?' I threw myself into relay and we're happy to be spreading the word about survival, because people do survive this."

Events include a survivors dinner and a survivors lap at the beginning of the relay to honor those in attendance. In remembrance of those unable to attend, there will be the luminaria ceremony.

During the ceremony, votive candles will be lit inside personalized bags dedicated to friends and family members and placed around the walking track. Penny said this year there also will be a new beacon of light in addition to the luminarias.

"We're going to have a hot-air balloon and they're going to glow it, which means it will be lit up from the inside," she said. "It's a really touching ceremony."

There's also entertainment -- a live band, games and themed laps for participants of all ages. Zumba, line dancing and Prancercise will be among the many activities of the night. J.T.'s Wagon Service of Fredericktown, Mo., will offer hayrides in exchange for donations.

"It's really a fun, free family-friendly event," Penny said. "It doesn't cost anything to come, but we do hope people will donate or buy things from the vending booths there that support our cause. We just want people to come by and see what we're doing and maybe even walk a few laps with us."

The Relay for Life of Cape Girardeau County will be from 6 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday at Arena Park. The survivor dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and the luminaria ceremony will be at 9 p.m.

More than 500 people have registered for the relay and have raised more than $126,000. The goal is to raise $185,000.

Schenimann said those who have not yet registered for the relay are welcome to do so by signing up at the registration table on the day of the event.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.